Bryce C.

#1) What was your situation prior to starting the ILTS Analyst Program and what originally got you interested?

I was a sophomore at Loyola University Maryland, and I recently declared my major in finance when I learned about the ILTS course through an advertisement on LinkedIn. At the time, I had no significant knowledge of investing and financial markets and I wanted to find something that would allow me to learn real world applications of financial concepts. I was also looking for an experience that would differentiate myself from other students in the recruiting process for internships in the financial industry. After reading about the ILTS course, I thought it would help me to build a foundation for a career in finance and I decided to enroll in the spring of my sophomore year at Loyola. Another reason that motivated me to enroll in the course was my desire to pursue opportunities in investment banking, therefore I felt ILTS would give me an experience that would enable me to be a competitive candidate for internships in investment banking.

#2) How do you think the one-on-one, internship-like structure of the program helped you grasp some of the more advanced modeling topics?

It was perfect because I could get instantaneous feedback for questions that I had, and that was extremely helpful as I was just starting to learn about financial analysis and did not have a background in any of the material, so having that one-on-one structure was essential is speeding up the learning process and it definitely made a huge difference in my overall progress and development. I enjoyed working with Todd so much because he was extremely skilled in breaking down the concepts for introductory level questions. He made previously unknown concepts seem like common sense and applied all of the material to real world scenarios which I found to be incredibly helpful.

#3) How big of a factor was having the ILTS program on your resume in terms of getting your most recent role?

ILTS played a major role in terms of my resume and overall interview success because it was a unique experience that almost every interviewer asked me about and talking about the experience and what I gained from it was a huge sticking point in almost every investment banking interview I completed. ILTS also made my resume stand out because it was directly applicable to the jobs I was applying for. The concepts and material covered in the class is exactly applicable to the jobs I was pursuing.
In the end, completing the ILTS course was the difference between me receiving an offer to work at an investment bank, and it was the best decision I made by far.

#4) How helpful was your instructor with prepping you for various parts of the recruiting process (resume, networking, interviewing, etc)?

Todd was an incredible resource and he was a mentor during the networking/recruiting process. I do not think I would have been able to succeed in such a way that I did if I did not have ILTS or Todd to help me out along the way. I was at a major disadvantage in the recruiting process since I did not come from a ‘target’ school, which means that major investment banks did not recruit kids from my university. Therefore, I had to think outside the box to find ways to get my foot in the door and stand out as a candidate against some of the most qualified students in the country. Todd takes a creative and unique approach to networking and interview preparation which enabled me to differentiate myself from the majority of candidates who did not have the same sort of exposure. Todd knows the ins and outs of the recruiting process in the financial industry, and he could help me out since he had gone through the process himself when he was pursuing buyside jobs, which are even more competitive and sought after than investment banking jobs. His knowledge and advice played a key role in my networking efforts.

Colton S.

#1) What was your situation prior to starting the ILTS Analyst Program and what originally got you interested?

I had some training in finance from my previous two internships (wealth management & real estate PE), but never anything that went substantially into valuation. It was also difficult to dig through and understand 10-ks without a reason. I was looking for something that helped me understand both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of finance with a hands-on approach.

#2) How do you think the one-on-one, internship-like structure of the program helped you grasp some of the more advanced modeling topics?

If I began to struggle with a particular concept, I could always reach out to Todd and receive immediate feedback. The feedback never explained directly how to solve the problem, but rather gave me vague guidance and helped me in understanding how to solve the problem myself. This approach helped solidify my understanding of the concepts.

#3) How big of a factor was having the ILTS program on your resume in terms of getting your most recent role?

Having ILTS on my resume helped me substantially in the interview process. It gave me a deep understanding of advanced modeling techniques right out of college which gave me an edge over most other candidates applying for these roles. For investment banking interviews, it prepared me for the technical part of the interview. It also provided great talking points with the interviewer and the ability to discuss real aspects of their job at a higher level.
Without it, I would have never landed this role at this investment bank

#4) How helpful was your instructor with prepping you for various parts of the recruiting process (resume, networking, interviewing, etc)?

Todd was always available for questions and guidance immediately. I found the most helpful part of the recruitment prep was Todd fielding questions from me that helped me better understand the landscape and structure of the different financial roles and their entry points. This helped with my ability to categorize these roles and understanding their interconnectedness.

Tom H.

#1) What was your situation prior to starting the ILTS Analyst Program and what originally got you interested?

It was early December of my junior year and I decided that I wanted to pursue an investment banking internship. I was not aware of how early the recruiting process started and how competitive it was (nobody told me I needed to start in late August). I realized after sending 50 resumes and cover letters that I would likely not hear back from one of them. I came to the conclusion that I needed to differentiate myself from the rest of the applicants as well as add some relevant IB experience. I googled “how to break into IB with an average GPA” and the ILTS website was the first result. I viewed the ILTS web page and it was exactly what I was looking for: relevant modeling experience for candidates that don’t have 4.0 GPA’s from Ivy League or target schools.

#2) How do you think the one-on-one, internship-like structure of the program helped you grasp some of the more advanced modeling topics?

I could ask questions specific to the assignment or model that I was currently completing. For example, the Full Projection Model had so many moving parts and was so detailed, and to be able to ask specific questions about my model and what I needed to change helped immensely.

#3) How big of a factor was having the ILTS program on your resume in terms of getting your most recent role?

It was extremely relevant for the a super day interview that I had at a boutique investment bank in Cleveland where I attend school. Most of the MD’s, Associates, and Analysts were very impressed with the topics covered as well as my determination to take on a course in my own time.

#4) How helpful was your instructor with prepping you for various parts of the recruiting process (resume, networking, interviewing, etc)?

Todd was very helpful with my resume and informing me on what kinds of questions to ask for phone interviews with a couple of MD’s at banks. For example, he told me to research and ask questions about specific deals that the firm had recently underwent. This helped a lot in my super day interviews when I was asked if I had any questions for them; I was able to “wow” them about specific details of transactions they have recently worked on.

Robert M.

#1) What was your situation prior to starting the ILTS Analyst Program and what originally got you interested?

My situation prior to joining the program was an inexperienced but eager to learn undergraduate. Coming from my freshmen year of university, it was very tough to gain any hands-on experience until I found this program. It gives you an edge early through the skills learned and demonstrates one’s desire to get involved in the financial world.

#2) How do you think the one-on-one, internship-like structure of the program helped you grasp some of the more advanced modeling topics?

The program still gave me a huge advantage in the interview process. Being able to go deeper into the technical questions and ask technical questions back to the interviewer showed my previous experience and willingness to learn on my own. Also, the internship program goes much deeper into everyday tasks of modeling you will do compared to any class I’ve had at university.

#3) How big of a factor was having the ILTS program on your resume in terms of getting your most recent role?

Huge, not only were the technical skills and aspects important but what the program says about your character. It demonstrates that you take it an extra mile and are willing to learn at any moment. Being able to have experience like the program will set you up for your internship in any financial field. In basic terms, it separates you from the rest of the pack.

#4) How helpful was your instructor with prepping you for various parts of the recruiting process (resume, networking, interviewing, etc)?

The biggest aspect for me was the resume. I came in with no knowledge on how to set up my resume for banks or other firms. The first lesson I learned was to format my resume to a specific detail and organization. This also set me apart from the other people who apply to jobs right off the bat. In general, the program has also created a vast network of connections, in the hundreds, I have created between other analysts through LinkedIn or email. Having these connections in the future will prove to be incredibly important as many of your fellow analysts will go on to lead successful careers.